Sony Tv Remote Not Working – Try These 7 Fixes

Smart TVs have been a huge success for Sony. Be it OLED TVs or HD TVs, Sony has become the public’s go-to TV brand. The brand offers many advanced features which you don’t get to see in other TV brands.

But, sometimes, you can face different Sony TV problems, out as the Sony TV Remote not working. Ever faced a similar situation? If you have, this article will get you out of this situation quickly and easily.

Here’s a quick solution to this problem.

Take the batteries out of your Sony TV remote control. Wait for around 1-2 minutes. Clean the terminals of the storm. Install the batteries and try your remote now. Look for any physical damage to batteries. If there are any visible signs, replace the batteries.

Following the above steps will quickly solve your problem. If you don’t know how to perform the above steps or are confused, don’t worry, we are going to discuss them in detail below.

7 Common Reasons why Sony TV remote won’t Work:

Some of you may be curious why your Sony TV remote not working. Following are some of the most probable reasons.

1. Dead Batteries:

Batteries have a life. In most cases, TV is used intensely throughout the day, which means the remote is also used in the same proportion.

If you haven’t replaced batteries in a long time, then this might be why your Sony TV remote isn’t working. Replace the old batteries with fresh ones.

2. Physical Distance and Barriers:

This problem might be due to the physical distance between your TV and the remote. Try reducing the distance and check the connectivity now.

Also, any physical or electromagnetic interference between the two can interrupt signal transmission. Remove such barriers and check your TV remote then.

3. Stuck Buttons:

Due to excessive use or due to the accumulation of dirt and debris in the remote, buttons might get stuck inside the remote.

This may cause the remote operation to fail. See the fix below on how to release stuck buttons. 

4. Outdated Software:

This reason can be rare, but still is the cause of many errors in TV, that’s why it has made its way to our list. Outdated software is the potential cause of many general errors in smart TVs.

5. Sony TV’s Voice Feature:

New Sony TVs have a voice feature. If this feature isn’t working, then your remote won’t work. See below in this article for the solution to this problem.

6. Input Mode:

If you are using an external device, your TV input is set to options like HDMI 1, HDMI 2, HDMI3, and Blu-Ray, and likewise, your TV remote would become unresponsive. Switch these modes and see if this works or not.

7. Faulty Remote:

If your remote was damaged due to some accident in the near past, there are chances that your remote is dead now.

Try all the fixes below and if nothing works, try any universal remote. You can use it as Sony TV Remote Replacement.

How to fix my Sony TV remote not working:

Let’s get to the troubleshooting part now.

Fix 1: Change your remote batteries

Whenever there is an issue with your Sony TV remote, the first thing you need to do is to check your remote batteries. Physically inspect it to find any possible physical damage to batteries.

Check the terminals of batteries and look for any white crystal accumulation. If there is some debris accumulated there, remove your remote batteries.

Press and hold the power button of your Sony TV remote for around 5-10 seconds to drain out the residual power inside.

Clean the end of the terminals and install a new pair of batteries. You can clean terminals by using a small solution of alcohol. A soft cloth or a cotton bud may be used to remove the liquid.

One thing to remember here is not to install a mix of a used and new battery. Also, we recommend not using a rechargeable battery.

Once you are done with the process, your remote will most likely start working again. If it isn’t, then proceed to the next step.

Fix 2: Power Cycle or Soft Reset your Sony TV

Power Cycle is a mild reset that you can perform on your TV to remove any temporary issues. It refreshes your TV and is beneficial for your TV’s smooth running.

The process is straightforward. Let’s see how to perform the power cycle.

• Unplug your Sony TV from the wall outlet.
• Wait for around 1-2 minutes.
• Press and hold the power button on your TV (not the power button on your remote) for about 30-60 seconds.
• Plug your TV back in.
• Turn on your TV and see if the remote works now or not.

One more thing: if your TV is connected to a surge protector, consider unplugging it and connecting it straight into a wall socket instead.

Surge Protectors and Power strips can sometimes be the root of problems like these.

Fix 3: Remove Obstacles between the TV and the Remote

It is important that you use your TV remote within a reasonable range of your Sony Tv. Otherwise, it might not detect any signals from your remote.

All TV remotes transmit signals (in this case, IR signals) containing information detected and received by your TV’s IR sensor.

If you are using a remote sitting on your couch at a considerable distance from your TV, try shortening the distance and then see if your remote works now or not.

Also, look for any physical or electromagnetic interference between your Sony TV and the remote. If there is any substantial physical barrier between the two, your remote won’t work.

Remove all such obstacles. Any Bluetooth devices or DVD players transmitting electromagnetic waves can also cause hindrance in signal transmission.

Try removing them and then test your Sony TV remote. Hopefully, this will solve the problem.

Fix 4: Update your TVs Software

Often rare, but outdated software might be the reason your Sony TV remote not working. You need to update your TV regularly to avoid any glitches in the system.

Most Sony TVs show the sign of software/firmware update once a new update is issued by the company and perform the update automatically.

However, sometimes your Sony TV doesn’t automatically get updated, especially if it isn’t connected to the internet and you need to update it automatically.

An internet connection is required prior to performing any software updates. Repeat the below-mentioned steps to perform a successful Sony TV update:

• Turn on your TV and navigate to settings by using the power button on the TV.
• Select the “Support and Settings” option.
• Click on “System Software Update.”
• A tab will open showing “Software Update,” and check for a software update and install it to your TV.

If there is any update available, your TV will start updating it.

If your Sony TV not connecting to WIFI, you can update your TV’s software using a USB. Download the update on your USB, place it on your TV, and install it there.

Do not forget to save the update file in the root folder of your USB. Make sure your USB has adequate space to store the updated file.

Sony recommends using a USB drive formatted in exFAT, FAT16, FAT32, or NTFS format.

Fix 4: Release Stuck Buttons

Stuck buttons can be one reason why your Sony TV remote isn’t working. It might not be the entire remote causing problem, but some buttons are stuck inside or are broken.

One stuck button can affect other controls too. One easy way to test out all the buttons of your remote is by use of a smartphone camera.

Open up your smartphone camera and place it in front of the remote’s IR sensor. Your Sony TV remote has an IR sensor mounted on the top side. It transmits signals that are then sensed by your TV.

Press all the buttons one by one while placing the camera in front of your remote. Upon pressing, you’ll see a flash in your remote’s sensor from the mobile camera.

This means that the button is working fine. If it doesn’t, then your button is either stuck or broken. Check all of the buttons and mark stuck buttons.

The buttons may be released by patting the remote against your hand. Strike it 3-4 times to release these buttons.

Then take a solution of alcohol to clean the dirt around these buttons. Clean the area with a cotton bud. Once done, check whether now your Sony TV remote works or not.

Fix 5: Fixing the Voice Feature of your Sony TV

Newer models of Sony TV have a voice feature that allows users to send commands to the TV directly by using their own voice.

One way to check whether your TV has this feature or not is to see the microphone button or mark on your Sony TV remote.

If you want to use this feature but can’t use it due to the remote, follow the steps below to get your Sony TV remote fixed.

 For troubleshooting voice feature:

• Look for the status light on the top side of your Sony TV remote on the MIC Button.
• If this status light is amber, then there is probably an issue with your remote and TV connectivity.
• One easy way to fix this is this power cycle for your Sony TV.
• Restart your Sony TV and open “Settings.”
• Find the Voice Remote Control option in “Settings.” It might have other names such as Remote and Accessories or Remote Control. Click on this option. Find the “Activate MIC button.”
• Click on this button and see if your remote’s voice feature works now or not.

Fix 6: Check your Sony TVs Input Mode

If your TV is connected to an external device, you need to ensure that your TV is connected to the correct input.

Your remote won’t work if you have selected the wrong input source. To solve this problem, follow the procedures outlined below:

• Start by pressing the input button on your Sony TV remote.
• Different options appear, such as HDMI1, HDMI2, HDMI3, Blu-Ray, and others.
• Now click on the port number or option your external device is connected to. To change channels, disable any such input mode that you have selected.
• The Channel repair option should also be deactivated. Turn on the Auto Program.
• Check whether now your Sony TV remote works or not.

Fix 7: Factory Reset your Sony TV

You might attempt factory resetting the Sony TV as a final resort. This will essentially restore the TV’s default settings and will remove all kinds of bugs and glitches in the system.

Before conducting a system reset, be careful to create a reserve backup of your data. You don’t want to lose your important data. Don’t you?

Here’s how you can perform a factory reset:

• Turn on your TV and press the “Home” button.
• Click on “Settings.”
• Click on “Storage and Reset.”
• You’ll find a Reset option under the SD card and an internal storage option (factory data reset). Click on this factory data reset option.
• Find “Erase Everything” and click on it on the next screen.

This will remove everything from your Sony TV, and your TV would become as if you have purchased it now.

Hopefully, this will resolve the issues, and you will be able to use your Sony TV remote again.

Related Article to Sony TV that you might like to know about:

• Sony TV Won’t Turn On
• Where are Sony TVs made?

Conclusion:

Sony TV Remote not working is a common issue faced by many users. This article discussed seven common reasons for the problem: dead batteries, physical distance and barriers, stuck buttons, outdated software, Sony TV’s voice feature, input mode, and a faulty remote.

The article also provided the fixes for the problem, including changing the remote batteries, performing a power cycle or soft reset on the TV, and removing obstacles between the TV and the remote.

By following the steps outlined in this article, users can resolve their Sony TV remote not working issue quickly and easily.